Quick release buckle and strap means



QUICK RELEASE BUCKLE AND STRAP MEANS Filed Dec. 5, 1966 I c INVENTOR-JACK ABERT 20/ 34 38 Z F 6 Y STEVE R. PERIN United States This inventionrelates to a quick release buckle and strap means, and moreparticularly, to a quick release buckle and strap means which may beused for a variety of purposes, wherein it is desired quickly to releaseconnected straps by a very simple pulling motion on a portion of one ofthe straps.

Various prior art quick release buckle mechanisms have been relativelycomplicated and expensive to produce.

There has been a need for a quick release buckle and strap means ofsimple, yet reliable construction, which may be used for variouspurposes, such as belts, harnesses, and other mechanical devices,wherein it is desired quickly to release a pair of connected straps by asingle direct motion principally comprising the pulling of one of thestraps relative to the buckle mechanism.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a quickrelease buckle and strap means, which may have a large variety of usesfor the purpose of quickly releasing a pair of connected straps by meansof a simple direct pulling of one of the straps.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel quick releasebuckle and strap means, wherein simple inclined ramp mechanism on onebuckle member is engaged by portions of another buckle member so as topermit snap action movement of a buckle member on the inclined rampstructure so as to move it into position to pass through the otherbuckle member and to release the strap mechanism connected by the bucklemembers of the invention.

Another object of the invention is to provide a very simple quickrelease buckle and strap means, which may instantly release a pair ofconnected straps, when a portion of one of the straps is quickly pulledin one direction toward the buckle members of the invention.

Another object of the invention is to provide a quick release buckle andstrap means, which may be made of aluminum, nylon or other material, andwhich may be cast of such materials, so as to provide a very simple andeconomical structure.

Another object of the invention is to provide a quick release buckle andstrap means, which may be particularly adapted for use in connectionwith pack frames for releasing the hip surrounding belt thereon.

Further objects and advantages of the invention may be apparent from thefollowing specification, appended claims and accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of belt, showing a quick release buckle andstrap means of the invention in connection therewith;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view taken from the line 22 ofFIG. 1, showing the buckle members and flexible straps of the invention;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of a quickrelease buckle and strap means of the invention;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary plan sectional view taken from theline 44 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary plan sectional view taken from the line 55 ofFIG. 3, showing varying positions of the buckle and strap members of theinvention, when being released by a quick pulling action of one of thestrap members;

FIG. 6 is another view similar to FIG. 4, showing by broken linesvarying positions of the buckle and strap members of the invention afterbeing released in a manner, as indicated in FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view of the buckle members of theinvention, this view being similar to FIG. 4, and illustrating apreferred embodiment of the invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the quick release buckle and strap means of theinvention is connected to a surrounding belt 10, and for purposes ofdisclosure, one portion 12 of the belt is designated as a first strapand another portion 14 of the belt 10 is designated as the second strap.

It will be understood, that the first and second straps 12 and 14 may beintegral with each other or separate, in accordance with the invention.When they are integral with each other they may form a surrounding belt,and when they are separate from each other they merely connect twoobjects together, and the buckle and strap structures of the inventionoperate in a similar manner as a quick release means.

The invention comprises a pair of buckle members. These buckle membersare designated 16 and 18, respectively, and the buckle member 16 will behereinafter referred to as the first buckle member and the buckle member18 will be referred to as the second buckle member. These buckle members16 and 18 are generally rectangular closed loop-shaped structures, eachhaving four surrounding integral straight portions, as shown best inFIG. 3 of the drawings.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 of the drawings, the buckle member 16 isprovided with a strap anchor bar 20, and the buckle member 18 isprovided with a strap anchor bar 22. The first strap 12 is provided witha large loop portion 24 looped around the bars 20 and 22. A fixture 26holds the loop 24, which permits relative movement of the buckle member16, such that it is movable relative to the buckle member 18, and thestrap loop 24 in a direction longitudinally of the axis of the firststrap 12, all as will be hereinafter described in detail. The bucklemember 16 is provided with a cross bar 28 located in spaced relation tothe anchor bar 20 and the loop portion 24 of the strap 12 passes betweenthe bars 20 and 28. Likewise the buckle member 18 is provided with across bar 30 closely spaced relative to the anchor bar 22 and thisarrangement permits the loop 24 of the strap 12 to pass between the bars22 and 30.

Integral with the anchor bar 20 and the cross bar 28 are side bars 32and 34 of the buckle member 16. These bars 32 and 34 are integral with astrap fastening bar 36 which is spaced from and substantially parallelwith the cross bar 28.

The buckle member 18 is provided with side bars 38 and 40 integral withthe anchor bar 22 and cross bar 30, and integral with the side bars 38and 40 is a fastening bar 42, all as shown best in FIGS. 3 and 4 of thedrawmgs.

An intermediate portion 44 of the second strap 14 is looped over thefastening bar portion 36 of the buckle member 16, and the strap 14 isprovided with a pair of contiguous portions 46 and 48 extending from theintermediate portion 44, and engaged around the bar portion 42 on theopposite side thereof from the fastening bar 36. When tension is appliedto the strap members 12 and 14 tending to pull in an opposite direction,the fastening bar 36 is pulled toward the bar 42, and opposite endportions 50 and 52 of the fastening bar 36 which project beyond oppositeedges 54 and 56 of the second strap 14 bear on inclined ramp portions 58and 60, which are disposed in the corners of the buckle member 18, andwhich project inwardly from the corners thereof, and convergingly awayfrom the fastening bar portion 42. These ramp portions 58 and 60 areprovided with respective terminal edges 62 and 64 which extend away fromthe bar portion 42,

3. and convergingly away from the buckle member 16 toward an oppositeside of the buckle member 18, as shown best in FIGS. and 6 of thedrawings.

It will be seen that opposite edges 54 and 56 of the contiguous portions46 and 48 of the second belt 14- are disposed between respective endportions 68 and 70 of the ramp portions 58 and 60. These ends 68 and 70project inwardly from the bar portions 40 and 3%, respec tively, of thebuckle member 18. Opposite end portions 50 and 52 of the fastening barportion 36 at the corners of the buckle member 16 bear on the rampportions 58 and 60, and these ramp portions thus tend to hold thefastening bar portion 36 in position to engage the contiguous portion 48of the strap 14 between the bar portion 36 and the bar portion 42 of thebuckle members 16 and 18, respectively, for locking the contiguousportions 46 and 48 and fastening the strap 14 to the strap 12.

Operation of the quick release buckle and strap means of the inventionis substantially, as follows:

When the invention is as shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings, and the bucklemembers 16 and 18 are holding the first strap 12 and second strap 14connected together, as hereinbefore described, the contiguous strapportion 48 of the strap 14 may be pulled backward in a direction, asindicated by an arrow A in FIGS. 5 and 6 of the drawings, whereupon thebuckle member 18 is pivoted relative to the buckle member 16substantially, as shown in FIG. 5, whereupon the fastening bar 36 of thebuckle 16 is forced to move slidably on the ramp portions 58 and 60toward the terminal edges 62 and 64 thereof, until the end portions 50and 52 pass over the terminal edges and permit the buckle members 16 topass through the buckle member 18 between the bars 38 and 40 thereof,and to a position as indicated by broken lines B in FIG. 6 of thedrawings. In this position, the contiguous portions 46 and 48 of thestraps 14 are released and are then permitted to slide through thebuckle member 16 around the bar portion 36 and the buckle mechanism isthus quickly released.

In actual operation, the continguous strap portion 48 is quickly pulledbackward in the direction of the arrow A to snap the ends 50 and 52 ofthe fastening bar 36 past the terminal edges 62 and 64 of the rampportions 58 and 60, respectively.

As shown in FIG. 7 of the drawings, the bar portion 36 is provided witha belt engaging edge 37 which is disposed at an angle less than 90 toprovide for efiicient gripping of the belt 14 at said edge 37, all asindicated best in FIG. 7 of the drawings. This provides for efiicicntgripping of the belt member 14.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications of the present invention may be resorted to in a mannerlimited only by a just interpretation of the following claims.

We claim:

1. In a quick release buckle and strap means, the combination of: firstand second elongated substantially flat flexible strap members eachhaving opposite edges; first and second substantially loop-shaped bucklemembers connected to said first strap member; said first buckle memberbeing movable relative to said second buckle member and said first strapin a direction longitudinally of the axis of said first strap; saidfirst buckle member also being pivotally mounted relative to said secondbuckle member and said first strap about an aXis disposed transverselyrelative to the longitudinal axis of said first strap and generally in aplane intersecting both said opposite edges thereof; said first bucklemember having a firststrap fastening bar portion spaced from itsconnection with said first strap, said second strap having anintermediate portion looped over said first strap fastening bar portion,said second strap having contiguous portions extending from saidintermediate portion and said first strap fastening bar; said secondbuckle member having a second strap fastening bar disposed adjacent saidcontiguous portions in such position as to clamp them against said firstfastening bar portion; said first fastening bar portion extending beyondopposite edges of saidintermediate portion of said second strap, saidsecond fastening bar portion of said second buckle member being longerthan said first bar portion of said first buckle member to therebypermit said first fastening bar portion to pass through saidlooped-shaped second buckle member; and ramp portions secured to saidsecond bar portion near opposite ends thereof, said ramp portions havingterminal edges and converging from said second bar portion tosaid-terminal edges of said ramp portions, said ramp portions beingdisposed to be engaged by opposite ends of said first bar portion, saidramp portions also converging away from the adjacent side of said firstfastening bar portion to said terminal'edges, whereby one of saidcontiguous strap portions which bears against said second bar portion ofsaid second buckle portion may be pulled toward said buckle members tothereby slide said first bar portion of said first buckle member on saidramp portions to a position beyond said terminal edges of said rampportions and to thereby permit said first buckle member to pass throughsaid second buckle member and to release said second strap to slidearound said first fastening bar portions.

2. The invention, as defined in claim 1, wherein: said buckle membersare each a substantially rectangular closed loop structure comprisingfour integral bar portions.

3. The invention, as defined in claim 2, wherein: said buckle membersare each provided with a cross bar disposed substantially parallel tothe respective first and second bar portions, said cross bars beingdisposed adjacent said first strap to hold it -in spaced relation tosaid first and second bar portions.

4. The invention, as defined in claim 2, wherein: said ramp portions aredisposed generally in the corners of said substantially rectangularsecond buckle member.

5. The invention, as defined in claim 1, wherein: said terminal edges ofsaid ramp portions are disposed at a side of said second buckle memberopposite to a side. thereof which is adjacent said first buckle member.

6. The invention, as defined in claim 1, wherein: said first strapfastening bar of said first buckle member is provided with a strapengaging edge portion having an acute angle less than to provide a beltgripping edge portion, said belt gripping edge portion being adjacent tosaid second fastening bar portion of said second buckle member, andbeing on the opposite-side of said first bar portion from the sidethereof directed toward said ramp portion.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,697,833 1/1929 Lane 24-1971,997,653 4/1935 Reiter 24-193 BOBBY R. GAY, Primary Examiner.

E. :SIMONSEN, Assistant Examiner,

1. IN A QUICK RELEASE BUCKLE AND STRAP MEANS, THE COMBINATION OF: FIRSTAND SECOND ELONGATED SUBSTANTIALLY FLAT FLEXIBLE STRAP MEMBERS EACHHAVING OPPOSITE EDGES; FIRST AND SECOND SUBSTANTIALLY LOOP-SHAPED BUCKLEMEMBERS CONNECTED TO SAID FIRST STRAP MEMBER; SAID FIRST BUCKLE MEMBERBEING MOVABLE RELATIVE TO SAID SECOND BUCKLE MEMBER AND SAID FIRST STRAPIN A DIRECTION LONGITUDINALLY OF THE AXIS OF SAID FIRST STRAP; SAIDFIRST BUCKLE MEMBER ALSO BEING PIVOTALLY MOUNTED RELATIVE TO SAID SECONDBUCKLE MEMBER AND SAID FIRST STRAP ABOUT AN AXIS DISPOSED TRANSVERSELYRELATIVE TO THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF SAID FIRST STRAP AND GENERALLY IN APLANE INTERSECTING BOTH SAID OPPOSITE EDGES THEREOF; SAID FIRST BUCKLEMEMBER HAVING A FIRST STRAP FASTENING BAR PORTION SPACED FROM ITSCONNECTION WITH SAID FIRST STRAP, SAID SECOND STRAP HAVING ANINTERMEDIATE PORTION LOOPED OVER SAID FIRST STRAP FASTENING BAR PORTION,SAID SECOND STRAP HAVING CONTIGUOUS PORTIONS EXTENDING FROM SAIDINTERMEDIATE PORTION AND SAID FIRST STRAP FASTENING BAR; SAID SECONDBUCKLE MEMBER HAVING A SECOND STRAP FASTENING BAR DISPOSED ADJACENT SAIDCONTIGUOUS PORTIONS IN SUCH POSITION AS TO CLAMP THEM AGAINST SAID FIRSTFASTENING BAR PORTION; SAID FIRST FASTENING BAR PORTION EXTENDING BEYONDOPPOSITE EDGES OF SAID INTERMEDIATE PORTION OF SAID SECOND STRAP, SAIDSECOND FASTENING BAR PORTION OF SAID SECOND BUCKLE MEMBER BEING LONGERTHAN SAID FIRST BAR PORTION OF SAID FIRST BUCKLE MEMBER TO THEREBYPERMIT SAID FIRST FASTENING BAR PORTIN TO PASS THROUGH SAIDLOOPED-SHAPED SECOND BUCKLE MEMBER; AND RAMP PORTIONS SECURED TO SAIDSECOND BAR PORTION NEAR OPPOSITE ENDS THEREOF, SAID RAMP PORTIONS HAVINGTERMINAL EDGES AND CONVERGING FROM SAID SECOND BAR PORTION TO SAIDTERMINAL EDGES OF SAID RAMP PORTIONS, SAID RAMP PORTIONS BEING DISPOSEDTO BE ENGAGED BY OPPOSITE ENDS OF SAID FIRST BAR PORTION, SAID RAMPPORTIONS ALSO CONVERGING AWAY FROM THE ADJACENT SIDE OF SAID FIRSTFASTENING BAR PORTION TO SAID TERMINAL EDGES, WHEREBY ONE OF SAIDCONTIGUOUS STRAP PORTIONS WHICH BEARS AGAINST SAID SECOND BAR PORTION OFSAID SECOND BUCKLE PORTION MAY BE PULLED TOWARD SAID BUCKLE MEMBERS TOTHEREBY SLIDE SAID FIRST BAR PORTION OF SAID FIRST BUCKLE MEMBER ON SAIDRAMP PORTIONS TO A POSITION BEYOND SAID TERMINAL EDGES OF SAID RAMPPORTIONS AND TO THEREBY PERMIT SAID FIRST BUCKLE MEMBER TO PASS THROUGHSAID SECOND BUCKLE MEMBER AND TO RELEASE SAID SECOND STRAP TO SLIDEAROUND SAID FIRST FASTENING BAR PORTIONS.